Defunct and Current Aussie Record Labels

Friday, September 25, 2015

REX

In 1959 Ken Taylor, the General Manager of Festival Records, began to hatch a plan for a record label that would feature only homegrown acts. The big names on Festival's books, like Col Joye, would stay on the main label but this enterprise would feature the new stars of the 1960s.

The first release was a single by Dig Richards and the R'Jays and it was a rock and roll version of the song Annie Laurie, which they renamed (Real Gone) Annie Laurie.

Throughout 1960 there were dozens of 7" singles released by artists like Candy and Mandy, Wilma Reading, Bobby Royal, Rhett Walker, Rob E.G, Johnny Byrell, Annette Klooger, The Graduates and even John Laws.